Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Mathew Barzal vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Mathew BarzalMathew BarzalIslanders · CentrevsRyan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · Centre

In 2025-26, Mathew Barzal scored 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.

Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.

This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.

Mathew Barzal has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.

Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, Plus/minus +10, Penalty minutes 61.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Transition attempts /60 1.26, High-danger chances 54.8%.

Head to head on the dot, Nugent-Hopkins leads Barzal 16–8.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mathew Barzal

1.82

fantasy points per game

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBarzalNugent-Hopkins
Goals (+2)0.470.56
Assists (+1)0.650.50
Power-play points (+0.5)0.120.20
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.230.18
Hits (+0.1)0.040.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.310.22

Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: Barzal vs Nugent-Hopkins

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BarzalNugent-Hopkins
5Team record in 12 meetings7
9Points in those games5

Barzal 4G 5A, 22 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 2G 3A, 33 SOG

8Faceoffs against each other16

Barzal's offensive zone 3–2 · neutral 3–8 · Barzal's defensive zone 2–6 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)

10:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side

Shot attempts
10–12
45.5%
Expected goals
0.7–0.7
49.5%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Mathew Barzal and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DateScoreBarzalNugent-Hopkins
2026-01-15NYI 1–0 EDM0G 1A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-16NYI 4–2 EDM1G 1A 1S1G 0A 5S
2023-12-19NYI 3–1 EDM0G 1A 1S0G 0A 2S
2023-11-13NYI 1–4 EDM1G 0A 4S0G 0A 2S
2023-01-05NYI 2–4 EDM1G 0A 4S0G 2A 0S
2022-11-23NYI 3–0 EDM0G 1A 0S0G 0A 3S
2022-02-11NYI 1–3 EDM0G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2019-10-08NYI 2–5 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2019-02-21NYI 3–4 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 5S
2019-02-16NYI 5–2 EDM1G 0A 2S1G 0A 7S
2018-03-08NYI 1–2 EDM0G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2017-11-07NYI 1–2 EDM0G 1A 2S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BarzalNugent-Hopkins

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.

Mathew Barzal

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 pts
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mathew Barzal or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
In 2025-26, Mathew Barzal scored 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
Who is better, Mathew Barzal or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Barzal and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 5–7. Barzal had 9 points (4 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 5 (2 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Barzal or Nugent-Hopkins?
Against each other, Barzal has won 8 and Nugent-Hopkins 16 of their 24 head-to-head draws.

2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →